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Arkham_c · Oct 28, 2004, 09:45 PM

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/

The closed beta is ending, and another stress test will begin before release.

This is the greatest game I've ever played, and I encourage you all to take part in the stress test if you have a machine capable of running it (you really just need a good video card and about 800Mhz of CPU).

They will be ending the closed beta tomorrow, so I expect open beta signups soon after that.

When we get to release, please join the Reservoir DogCows guild if you're a Mac user -- it should be a blast!

milenko11 · Oct 28, 2004, 11:27 PM

is your guild playing on the PVP server?

redJag · Oct 29, 2004, 01:25 AM

Currently we have PvE Alliance and PvP Horde.

Turnpike · Oct 29, 2004, 02:53 AM

Sweet... I've been playing for a couple weeks now and Horde > alliance...

... possibly just because I hate gnomes, but.... it's worth it.

I wish I could have a faction of Troll, Tauren, Orc, and NE... that would rule. I don't like UD or alliance aside from NE...

oh well. I'm hoping that I'll be able to have Horde on one PVP realm and alliance on another PVP realm...

Turias · Oct 29, 2004, 11:10 AM

Yeah, if you guys are interested in the guild, head on over to DogCows.net.

milenko11 · Oct 29, 2004, 11:13 AM

I'll check it out but i'm going PVP Alliance. I really want to join a mac guild. maybe i'll just have to start my own.

redJag · Oct 29, 2004, 06:45 PM

Don't count the DogCows out of PvP Alliance just yet, we're still deciding what we'll do. Not sure that we'll have it figured out for the stress test (open beta) tho

The Placid Casual · Oct 29, 2004, 07:02 PM

Some Dogcows...

Some shots of the Alliance decimation off Tarren Mill, the horde village, before the beat server was no more...

milenko11 · Oct 29, 2004, 08:23 PM

well if you guys go Alliance PVP i will join. I'll probably get my brother to join too.

gbafan · Oct 30, 2004, 04:53 PM

Man, that was a fantastic way to go out for sure TPC. Thanks for the good times and I hope to see you all soon

Arkham_c · Oct 30, 2004, 08:25 PM

On the last day we wiped out Tauren Mill, wiped out the Crossroads, then foolishly attacked Bloodhoof village on the way to Thunder Bluff. Many died against the level 75 guards, so we headed back to Southshore to fight at Tauren Mill some more!

I love that game. Does anyone know, will they sell "play time" cards at retail outlets so I ca buy them rather than being charged monthly on a credit card?

The Placid Casual · Oct 31, 2004, 06:20 AM

Originally posted by Arkham_c:
On the last day we wiped out Tauren Mill, wiped out the Crossroads, then foolishly attacked Bloodhoof village on the way to Thunder Bluff. Many died against the level 75 guards, so we headed back to Southshore to fight at Tauren Mill some more!

I love that game. Does anyone know, will they sell "play time" cards at retail outlets so I ca buy them rather than being charged monthly on a credit card?

A listing for 60 day time cards is already on the Amazon.com USA... $29.99 for 60 days.

Here!

Can't see any reason why they won't be sold elsewhere...

Cipher13 · Nov 1, 2004, 12:49 AM

I think I'm having withdrawals... *twitch*

Bookie · Nov 1, 2004, 11:07 AM

I played in the 1st stress test - I can't believe they've been working on WoW all this time, because it was already more polished then most games I've played - looking forward to another free sample.

videian28 · Nov 1, 2004, 03:49 PM

downloading now

(called the wife from work and had her start it

)

gbafan · Nov 1, 2004, 04:19 PM

Originally posted by videian28:
downloading now (called the wife from work and had her start it )

Sure wish we could get an official word from Blizzard on this. Oh Rob....

gbafan · Nov 1, 2004, 05:56 PM

Well it's official; on the WoW.com site. Now then; there are a lot of questions regarding what the heck is going on.

The short list:

1) Final Stress Test is for closed beta testers and Fileplanet subscribers only. Blizzard will not be allowing anyone else to download at this time.

2) Final Stress Test will last for one week; according to Fileplanet.
http://www.fileplanet.com/subscribe/wow/index.html

Subscribe now for an opportunity to join the World of Warcraft� Final Stress Test and play the game one week before the public!
In the Final Stress Test, you�ll have one week before the Open Beta Test starts to play the game, create characters and go on the most amazing adventures! And the best part is that your characters from the Final Stress Test will be transferred over to the Open Beta Test!
Subscribe now and see what everyone has been waiting for - World of Warcraft!

3) Open Beta will start after Final ST and will be open to anyone until all slots are filled at which time it will close again

* Current closed beta testers will have complete access to both the final stress test and the open beta so don't worry; we don't need to do anything but download, download, and download some more

My thoughts? With Open Beta scheduled to start on; hmm; Nov. 8th it does appear that my previous speculation is correct. Blizzard is going for the juggler on Everquest 2's launch date. Woohoo!

How long will open beta last? For that I have no idea. As long as it takes I'm sure, at least a couple of weeks? /shrug As long as it lets the wind out of EQ2s sails it could last for awhile.

Go Blizzard, Go Blizzard!

rbarris · Nov 1, 2004, 07:50 PM

Originally posted by gbafan:
Blizzard is going for the juggler on Everquest 2's launch date.

Did you mean "jugular"?

Nothing wrong with jugglers but OK.

Wes · Nov 1, 2004, 09:38 PM

Can anyone get the account creation page to load? I just get limitless timeout errors.

gbafan · Nov 1, 2004, 10:26 PM

Originally posted by rbarris:
Did you mean "jugular"?

Nothing wrong with jugglers but OK.

Yeah, I must've been confused by all the downloader confusion.... ^&%$&$^%@#$@#$@#$

That pretty much sums it up to this point... 8 hours later and about 75MBs done of 2.5GBs.

redJag · Nov 1, 2004, 10:34 PM

Originally posted by rbarris:
Did you mean "jugular"?

Nothing wrong with jugglers but OK.

Hey, your post isn't in blue.. must be a forum problem.

Xidius · Nov 2, 2004, 12:23 AM

*cries*

I was hoping the closed beta would go on forever. ='(

- Xidius

Level 60 troll rogue of pwnage.

gbafan · Nov 2, 2004, 03:47 AM

Originally posted by rbarris:
Did you mean "jugular"?

Nothing wrong with jugglers but OK.

I guess I should retract my "going for the ""jugular"" of EQ2" statement. Today has been nothing close to stellar on all fronts.

TheBadgerHunter · Nov 2, 2004, 01:44 PM

I HAVE to get into that. Just to see if it'll work on my machine.

-Q- · Nov 2, 2004, 06:12 PM

35 minutes remaining on the download and all moving into the new house has been completed. I can now focus some newly acquired freetime on something important.

Chimpmaster · 08:00 AM

Hi,

I am a premium fileplanet subscriber and I signed up for the closed beta stress test.

It said " congratulations you have been accepted" etc. It also said I would be issued with a code in due course, and that they are issued in groups. Ive read the faq and looks like I have to wait, just wondering if anyone else has done this yet and if so how long does it take?

Around 6 hrs later and I havent got my code yet. Any ideas how long it takes? Its only a week stress test and I have signed up late as it is. A 2.5GB d/l will take a while so I want to get it started now!

UPDATE : Now sorted, a couple of hrs later and a code was issued to me. Im downloading it now...

Bookie · Nov 3, 2004, 12:09 PM

I signed up yesterday - my code was waiting in my inbox this morning. I'm downloading right now (1.61 of 2.5 GB).

MOTHERWELL · Nov 3, 2004, 05:19 PM

Is everyone on a G5 here? Should I not bother if I have a MDD G4?

-Q- · Nov 3, 2004, 06:05 PM

I'm on a dual 2 G5 at home. The open beta installer did tell me that my PowerBook's (what I used to download the installer) processor wasn't beefy enough to run WoW. So I'm betting it's at least a 1 Ghz G4 requirement...

MOTHERWELL · 06:48 PM

Anyone else have problems getting the registration to work? I really dislike it when I am willing to PAY and they won't accept it. I get an error page..

[EDIT]: Works with IE.....

redJag · Nov 3, 2004, 08:21 PM

The minimum requirement is a 933Mhz G4, but I think it lets you install anyway. It also has a hard requirement of OS X 10.3.5 ( I don't think it will let you install with anything earlier.. ).

Arkham_c · Nov 4, 2004, 11:49 AM

I have heard tell of people playing happily on an 800Mhz iMac G4, but I have a hard time believing it. I tried it on my 900Mhz G3 iBook and found it completely unplayable.

It runs very nicely on my G5 though

Bookie · Nov 4, 2004, 02:45 PM

I'd guess it will play beautifully on anything at or above the requirements. It runs like butter on my 1.2 gHz iBook.

I've said this elsewhere, but I'll say it again. It ran, slowly and sometimes choppily, on my iMac, which is a G3 600 mHz, with a Rage 128 with 16 MB. I was running off of a firewire harddrive, so I'm not sure if it would have installed, but it ran, and while my standards are admittedly low, it was playable enough that I played for a couple hours after just seeing if it would run, and was even able to complete a quest. so a dual G4 with a decent video card, even if it is only 800, would probably be pretty good with eye candy on low. BTW, the game still looks great at the lowest graphical options

Cincojoe · Nov 4, 2004, 06:03 PM

can anyone confirm if it runs ok on a Ti 1GHz witha gig of RAM?

gbafan · Nov 4, 2004, 06:38 PM

Originally posted by Cincojoe:
can anyone confirm if it runs ok on a Ti 1GHz witha gig of RAM?

It will run "ok". Don't expect much from it though when you're performing raids like those that are shown above ^^

Both my Macs are lag fests when raiding... yet some how; amazingly, my PC flies

I'm in those pictures above too

Cincojoe · Nov 4, 2004, 07:38 PM

im not amazed that your pc flies....that's to be expected. Macs are a little behind when it comes to gaming.

hanzo · Nov 4, 2004, 10:58 PM

Here are the specs from the stress test faq:

Windows® System 98/ME/2000/XP OS:

800 MHz or higher CPU.
256 MB or more of RAM.
32 MB 3D graphics card with hardware Transform and Lighting, such as GeForce 2 or better.
4 GB or more of available hard drive space.
DirectX® 9.0c or above.
A 56k or higher modem with an Internet connection.

Mac® System OS X 10.3.5 OS:

933 MHz or higher G4 or G5 processor.
512 MB RAM or higher. DDR RAM recommended.
ATI or NVIDIA video hardware with 32 MB VRAM or more.
4 GB or more of available hard drive space.
MacOS X 10.3.5 or newer.
A 56k or higher modem with an Internet connection.

First of all, minimum requirements almost always produce mediocre game performance(pc or mac). Therefore, one should bump up the reqs a bit. Also, pc's would probably play alot nicer. Perhaps because games are produced primarily with pc's in mind.

I've been trying to research how WoW plays on macs, primarily how they play on portables(ibook/pb). I've read from some that it works "amazing" on 1ghz ibooks and others with dual processor desktops, running "adequate". So it's kinda hard to tell how well it runs objectively. I guess for some, adequate could be amazing and to others vice versa.

I was wondering if we could have some more folks chime in with their running specs and perhaps FPS as gauges of performance. I'm guessing that VRAM and the video hardware would be the most defining component of performance.

Turnpike · Nov 5, 2004, 04:25 AM

to answer whether or not it will install:

yes, it will install on pretty much anything. I was able to install it just fine on my Sawtooth 400. It couldn't handle the graphics in the opening menu screen, but it installed.

as for current specs... I never looked at my FPS (how does one get this to display in-game?) but I do know it is all completely playable. Should be on my dual 1.8. Only times it chokes is during raids...

Dex13 · Nov 11, 2004, 08:10 PM

Hey Guys Now that the sign ups are closed and they will only allow it with a cd key will the cd key provided during the mass signup work and does anyone have it?

redJag · Nov 12, 2004, 04:30 PM

They generated a unique key for each signup.

Weezer · Nov 13, 2004, 06:15 PM

Performance on a 933 G4 768 and a Geforce4 Ti is very meh

Arkham_c · Nov 13, 2004, 07:19 PM

Performance is more a feature of your video card than your processor.

Weezer · Nov 13, 2004, 07:30 PM

Originally posted by Arkham_c:
Performance is more a feature of your video card than your processor.

that seems to be the opposite of what rob was saying on the WoW forums. My vid card is pretty capable...I think the problem is that all the shader options have been turned off until an apple bug fix comes out. Once they can offload more stuff onto my GPU hopefully it will play better.

Horsepoo!!! · Nov 13, 2004, 08:58 PM

Originally posted by Weezer:
that seems to be the opposite of what rob was saying on the WoW forums. My vid card is pretty capable...I think the problem is that all the shader options have been turned off until an apple bug fix comes out. Once they can offload more stuff onto my GPU hopefully it will play better.

I hope 10.3.6 fixed everything.

Weezer · Nov 14, 2004, 05:58 AM

Originally posted by Horsepoo!!!:
I hope 10.3.6 fixed everything.

nope. shaders are still turned off in WoW

redJag · Nov 14, 2004, 02:53 PM

Originally posted by Weezer:
nope. shaders are still turned off in WoW

Yeah, they're disabled in the game, not because of your drivers. They hardcoded them to be disabled so people wouldn't have issues with them until the drivers were updated. I expect them to be re-enabled with the next patch.

Adam Betts · Nov 15, 2004, 02:25 AM

Originally posted by Horsepoo!!!:
I hope 10.3.6 fixed everything.

Official word on this:

Applying the 10.3.6 update, you may see some improvement in performance, but the shader effects will remain disabled for the time being. We are working on some remaining shader-related driver issues - when they are resolved in a future update we will be able to re-enable the majority of those features.

When asked about if we have to wait till 10.3.7, they replied:

As it turns out, it can go either way. It is possible that workarounds will be found (sometimes these are quite simple), or it may be the case that a new driver rev will be required. I expect to have a lot more information on this specific topic before December.

Horsepoo!!! · Nov 15, 2004, 05:09 PM

Wow...thanks to driver bugs for ATI's 9600+ cards, us other folks with older cards that have working shaders will get a retail version with shaders disabled?

I know this isn't a single-player game and the retail build will download all the latest patches but whatever...

rbarris · 12:05 AM

Originally posted by Horsepoo!!!:
Wow...thanks to driver bugs for ATI's 9600+ cards, us other folks with older cards that have working shaders will get a retail version with shaders disabled?

I know this isn't a single-player game and the retail build will download all the latest patches but whatever...

Edit, I had some mass confusion / poor recollection here (re 9600 GPU's). Which older card do you have ?

I'm still discussing the fix release cycle with management. We are split between doing a Mac specific patch once we can address all the outstanding issues at once; or staggering it so as each solved combination is ready, users with that hardware will get the feature re-enabled. There have been issues with both ATI and NVIDIA HW, on both vertex and pixel shader based features.

The "one patch" solution does inconvenience some users for a time, but is less painful for us (more patches == more QA and risk of delays). There may be a middle ground where we enable a group of working combinations and get it out the door, and then follow up with the rest a little later.

Your feedback matters so I don't mind hearing it.

Weezer · Nov 16, 2004, 02:27 AM

Is it likely the remaining issues can be dealt with in a blizzard patch or will require 10.3.7? If it can be a blizzard patch, I would rather see them released as available, rather than waiting for one big ultimate one.